«Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me» (2 Corinthians 12:9).
ONE OF THE MOST inspiring books I have read in recent years is A Thousand Shall Fall. It tells the fascinating story of the life of Franz Hasel, an Adventist German who was forced to serve as a soldier in the ranks of Hitler’s army. Due to the compulsory conscription practiced by the Third Reich, Hasel had to live out his military experience within the Nazi army, but he exalted his faith in God, and remained faithful to Him in all circumstances. Although it tells of many miraculous times in which Franz’s spiritual greatness is shown, one of the most relevant aspects of reading this book is discovering that this courageous Christian was still a mere mortal.
The author, Susi Hasel Mundy, recounts how a soldier named Leo usually had a mocking attitude toward Franz’s religious life. He would jeer at him for being a creationist, a vegetarian, reading the Bible, and refusing to carry a weapon. One day Franz got tired of being laughed at, and very firmly told him, «If you make fun of me one more time, I’ll beat you up!» Leo did not take him seriously, and «with one mighty swing of his fist, Franz knocked Leo unconscious» on the ground. Then he rubbed his hands together with an air of triumph, as if saying, «There, I showed you!»
Susi Hasel Mundy, Franz Hasel’s daughter, could have left this sad episode out of her father’s life, but she decided to share it in her book. The Bible itself doesn’t hide the mistakes of the great characters mentioned in it. Noah’s drunkenness is not concealed, nor Jacob’s deceit, nor Peter’s denial of Christ. Why? Because we should not forget that they were all people «with a nature like ours» (James 5:17). The thing is, our humanity drives us to be dominated by the passions that violently struggle within us; passions that will oftentimes lead us, like they led Franz Hasel, to commit wrongful acts. Our great struggle is to put those «evil desires» (Colossians 3:5) to death.
We are frustrated when our ethical break down makes the most deplorable aspects of our being visible. For those of us who feel that way, here is God’s promise: «My strength [says God] is made perfect in weakness» (2 Corinthians 12:9). Each time weakness rises to the surface, we have the precious opportunity to allow the power of God to be made perfect in our lives. That’s what Franz did; won’t we do the same?
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Taken from: Devotional Readings for Adults 2023
“I AM WITH YOU”
From: J. VLADIMIR POLANCO
Collaborators: Lorina Maya & Angelica Cuate
